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Mohammed's Radio
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Wikipedia article
"'Mohammed's Radio'" is a song by American singer-songwriter Warren Zevon. The song was released on his 1976 album 'Warren Zevon'.[http://www.allmusic.com/album/warren-zevon-mw0000312155 All Music Group, Warren Zevon (album)] The song was featured on 'A Quiet Normal Life: The Best of Warren Zevon' and several other greatest hits-type albums by Zevon.[http://www.allmusic.com/song/mohammeds-radio-mt0007726711 All Music Group, Mohammed's Radio (song)] Fleetwood Mac members Lindsey Buckingham and Stevie Nicks are also featured on this recording,[http://fleetwoodmac.net/discog/songs.php?sid=4115&perfid=11652 The Penguin Discography: Mohammed's Radio] as are Bobby Keys, Bob Glaub, and Waddy Wachtel.
By one telling, the title of the song was inspired by a Halloween parade Zevon witnessed in Aspen, Colorado in 1973. However, by another telling, Zevon simply liked the sound of the two words together.George Plaskeyes, 'Warren Zevon: Desperatiado' of Los Angeles, p. 30.
In any case, the song has multiple levels of meaning, starting with the redemptive power of rock music, but extending to notions of escapism, cultural mixing, mysticism, and whether rationalities exist below the surface level of society. It features some of Zevon's trademark mordant irony. By another interpretation it is a negative portrayal of life in Los Angeles.New Rolling Stone Record Guide, 1982, p. 570.
The song has been interpreted by other artists as well, most notably by Linda Ronstadt on her 1978 album 'Living in the USA', a track that gained airplay on album-oriented rock radio formats.
Critical response
Music critic John Rockwell devotes pages to the song both the Zevon original and
the Ronstadt rendition in his contribution to the Greil Marcus-edited 1979 collection of essays 'Stranded: Rock and Roll for a Desert Island', where among other things Rockwell describes it as "an artistic breakthrough" for Ronstadt.John Rockwell, "Living ing in the U.S.A.", in 'Stranded: Rock and Roll for a Desert Island', ed. Greil Marcus (New York: Alfred A. Knopf, 1979), [https://books.google.com/books?id=JNctDAFKuioC&lpg=PA216&dq=%22Mohammed's%20Radio%22&pg=PA217#v=onepage&q=%22Mohammed's%20Radio%22&f=false pp. 215-18]
A number of other books have yielded significant commentary on the song such as 'Philosophy Americana: Making Philosophy at Home in American Culture',[https://books.google.com/books?id=zVUQq8DKaREC&lpg=PA145&dq=%22Mohammed's%20Radio%22&pg=PA145#v=onepage&q=%22Mohammed's%20Radio%22&f=false Philosophy Americana: Making Philosophy at Home in American Culture]
'Rolling Stone Interv - Rolling Stone Magazine',[https://books.google.com/books?id=Nzz7M5FvWiUC&pg=PA347&dq=%22Mohammed%27s+Radio%22&hl=en&sa=X&ved=0CCsQ6AEwAzgKahUKEwia3JLDkYPHAhWGPZIKHbH-BuU#v=onepage&q=%22Mohammed%27s%20Radio%22&f=false Rolling Stone Interv - Rolling Stone Magazine]
[https://books.google.com/books?id=1-pH4i3jXvAC&pg=PA1269&dq=%22Mohammed%27s+Radio%22&hl=en&sa=X&ved=0CCMQ6AEwATgKahUKEwia3JLDkYPHAhWGPZIKHbH-BuU#v=onepage&q=%22Mohammed%27s%20Radio%22&f=false All Music Guide to Rock: The Definitive Guide to Rock, Pop, and Soul]
Briefer references note that the song inspired an independent film in 1995 of the same title,[https://books.google.com/books?id=i8n24V3bAO8C&pg=PA174&dq=%22Mohammed%27s+Radio%22&hl=en&sa=X&ved=0CC4Q6AEwA2oVChMIkdz2qo-DxwIVTxiSCh0l8ws7#v=onepage&q=%22Mohammed%27s%20Radio%22&f=false Scott L. Baugh, 'Latino American Cinema: An Encyclopedia of Movies, Stars, Concepts, and Trends', p. 174] and critic Dave Marsh put it near the top of a list of "best songs about radio".[https://books.google.com/books?id=_dEddefiYx0C&pg=PA164&dq=%22Mohammed%27s+Radio%22&hl=en&sa=X&ved=0CEoQ6AEwCGoVChMIkdz2qo-DxwIVTxiSCh0l8ws7#v=onepage&q=%22Mohammed%27s%20Radio%22&f=false Dave Marsh and James Bernard, 'New Book of Rock Lists', p. 164]
Personnel
* Warren Zevon Vocals, piano
* Stevie Nicks Backing vocals
* Lindsey Buckingham Guitar, backing vocals
* Bobby Keys Saxophone
* Bob Glaub Bass guitar
* Waddy Wachtel Guitar
* David Lindley Lap steel guitar
* Larry Zack Drums, percussion
Technical
*Jackson Browne - Producer
*Ken Caillat - Engineer
References
Category:Warren Zevon songs
Category:Songs written by Warren Zevon
Category:1976 songs
Category:Linda Ronstadt songs
Category:Songs about radio
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